Editorial comment. For
the purposes of this Concordance, book V is of special interest, the adventures
of Ericus disertus, Eric the Eloquent, whose rhetorical powers rely heavily
on the paroemial side of phraseological skills. It is difficult to ascertain
the seriousness with which Saxo presents this character, but there are impressive
affinities with the proverbial inventory of the Icelandic sagas. THIS
FILE IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ITS DEVELOPMENT.

O-R Liber primus. 34. VIII. 25. Malo præterea virum
regnare quam patrem. Malo regis coniunx quam nata censeri. Melius est principem
interius amplecti quam exterius venerari, gloriosius nubere regi quam obsequi.
Ipse quoque tibi sceptrum quam socero malle debeas. Proximum sibi quemque natura
constituit. Aderit cœpto facultas, si facto voluntas accesserit.
Nihil est quod non ingenio cedat. Instaurandum epulum est, exornandum convivium,
providendi paratus, invitandus socer. Fraudi viam familiaritas simulata præstabit.
Nullo melius quam affinitatis nomine insidiæ teguntur.
PF Book I. 34. Ulvild incites her husband, Guthorm, to murder her father, Hading:"I had rather my husband were monarch, not my parent; I had rather
be rated a ruler's wife, not his daughter. It is better to enjoy the close caresses
of the sovereign than pay homage to him at a distance, more glorious to be the
bride of majesty than its parasite. You should prefer your hand to hold the
sceptre rather than his. Nature has made each man his own best friend. You
won't lack opportunity if the will to do it is there. All things give
way to sharp wits.68 We must hold a celebration, provide a banquet,
make the necessary preparations and invite my father. Fake intimacy will pave
the way to deception since the name of kinsman is the very best cover for a
trap." HED 38:68Kallstenius
(p. 18, no. 3) notes an Icelandic parallel to the first of these proverbial
sayings: Hvör er sjálfum sèr nœstr. (Everyone
is nearest to himself.) cf. the English proverb: A man is his own best friend.
The next two sentences appear to be two versions of another proverb, for which
Kallstenius gives no northern parallel, similar to the English proverb: Where
there´s a will there´s a way.

O-R Liber primus. 34. VIII. 25. Malo præterea virum
regnare quam patrem. Malo regis coniunx quam nata censeri. Melius est principem
interius amplecti quam exterius venerari, gloriosius nubere regi quam obsequi.
Ipse quoque tibi sceptrum quam socero malle debeas. Proximum sibi quemque natura
constituit. Aderit cœpto facultas, si facto voluntas accesserit. Nihil
est quod non ingenio cedat. Instaurandum epulum est, exornandum convivium,
providendi paratus, invitandus socer. Fraudi viam familiaritas simulata præstabit.
Nullo melius quam affinitatis nomine insidiæ teguntur.
PF Book I. 34. Ulvild incites her husband, Guthorm, to murder her father, Hading:
"I had rather my husband were monarch, not my parent; I had rather be rated
a ruler's wife, not his daughter. It is better to enjoy the close caresses of
the sovereign than pay homage to him at a distance, more glorious to be the
bride of majesty than its parasite. You should prefer your hand to hold the
sceptre rather than his. Nature has made each man his own best friend. You won't
lack opportunity if the will to do it is there. All things give way
to sharp wits.68 We must hold a celebration, provide a banquet,
make the necessary preparations and invite my father. Fake intimacy will pave
the way to deception since the name of kinsman is the very best cover for a
trap." HED 38: 68Kallstenius
(p. 18, no. 3) notes an Icelandic parallel to the first of these proverbial
sayings: Hvör er sjálfum sèr nœstr. (Everyone
is nearest to himself.) cf. the English proverb: A man is his own best friend.
The next two sentences appear to be two versions of another proverb, for which
Kallstenius gives no northern parallel, similar to the English proverb: Where
there's a will there's a way.

O-R Liber quintus. 105. I. 5. Ad hæc Frotho, repugnandi
ratione pertinacius quæsita, a patre didicisse se refert non expedire
regibus e longinquo copulam peti nec Venerem nisi a finitimis posci.
PF Book V. 119.Frothi objects to the wooing of
the King of the Hun's daughter for his wife:
When he withstood this proposal and they pushed him for his reasons, he replied
that his father had taught him kings should not look to distant lands
for their partners; love should only be demanded from neighbours.

O-R Liber quintus. 105. I. 5. Ad hæc Frotho, repugnandi
ratione pertinacius quæsita, a patre didicisse se refert non expedire
regibus e longinquo copulam peti nec Venerem nisi a finitimis posci.
PF Book V. 119. Frothi objects to the wooing of
the King of the Hun's daughter for his wife:
When he withstood this proposal and they pushed him for his reasons, he replied
that his father had taught him kings should not look to distant lands for their
partners; love should only be demanded from neighbours.

O-R Liber quintus. 106. I. 9. Contra rex non decere ait amplitudinem
regiam, quem honore præcelleret, æquare conflictu, nec oportere
dignitate impares pugnæ paritate conferri.
PF Book V. 120.The King of the Huns objects when
Vestmar holds his sword to his throat to get pemission for his daughter to marry
Frothi:
The monarch for his part asserted that it was unfitting for his own royal grandeur
to be matched in conflict with one of inferiour rank; for those of unequal
authority to fight on equal terms was undignified.

O-R Liber quintus. 106. I. 9. Ita Westmarus ad præcordialem
puellæ sententiam relegatus, sciens feminam omnem ut volubilis animi,
ita versilis esse propositi, tanto rem fidentius exsequi cœpit, quanto
virginum votis plus varietatis inesse compertum habuit. Auxit curæ eius
fiduciam adiecitque studio spem simplicitas virginis proprio permissa consilio
libertasque feminæ politioribus blanditiarum delenimentis palpanda, non
modo abduci facilis, verum etiam obsequi præceps.
PF Book V. 120.Vestmar goes to discover the princess's
own desires in this matter:
Referred in this way to the sentiments of the princess's heart, Vestmar, knowing
that every female has a veering mind and shifting aims, began
to seek his goal with more confidence, inasmuch as he was aware how changeable
a maid's wishes can be. His assurance in the task increased and hope attached
to his endeavours by the artlessness of a girl left to her own decision; a woman
free to be coaxed by smooth, flattering compliments would be easily led and
quick to comply.

O-R Liber quintus. 106. I. 9. Ita Westmarus ad præcordialem
puellæ sententiam relegatus, sciens feminam omnem ut volubilis animi,
ita versilis esse propositi, tanto rem fidentius exsequi cœpit, quanto
virginum votis plus varietatis inesse compertum habuit. Auxit curæ eius
fiduciam adiecitque studio spem simplicitas virginis proprio permissa consilio
libertasque feminæ politioribus blanditiarum delenimentis palpanda, non
modo abduci facilis, verum etiam obsequi præceps.
PF Book V. 120.Vestmar goes to discover the princess's
own desires in this matter:
Referred in this way to the sentiments of the princess's heart, Vestmar, knowing
that every female has a veering mind and shifting aims, began to seek his goal
with more confidence, inasmuch as he was aware how changeable a maid's
wishes can be. His assurance in the task increased and hope attached
to his endeavours by the artlessness of a girl left to her own decision; a woman
free to be coaxed by smooth, flattering compliments would be easily led and
quick to comply.
Kålund 158. no. 97. ja er meyiar nei astenn minn

O-R Liber quintus. 106. I. 9. Ita Westmarus ad præcordialem
puellæ sententiam relegatus, sciens feminam omnem ut volubilis animi,
ita versilis esse propositi, tanto rem fidentius exsequi cœpit, quanto
virginum votis plus varietatis inesse compertum habuit. Auxit curæ eius
fiduciam adiecitque studio spem simplicitas virginis proprio permissa consilio
libertasque feminæ politioribus blanditiarum delenimentis palpanda, non
modo abduci facilis, verum etiam obsequi præceps.
PF Book V. 120.Vestmar goes to discover the princess's
own desires in this matter:
Referred in this way to the sentiments of the princess's heart, Vestmar, knowing
that every female has a veering mind and shifting aims, began to seek his goal
with more confidence, inasmuch as he was aware how changeable a maid's wishes
can be. His assurance in the task increased and hope attached to his endeavours
by the artlessness of a girl left to her own decision; a woman free
to be coaxed by smooth, flattering compliments would be easily
led and quick to comply.

O-R Liber quintus. 106-7. I. 10. Illa prius in amorem proci
latenti potionis operatione perducta, plura se de Frothonis indole referebat
spe præsumpsisse quam fama, quippe cum is ab illustri genus parente duxerit,
naturaque omnis suæ soleat origini respondere.
PF Book V. 121.The princess is seduced also by
the love potion concocted by Gøtvara:
Drawn into loving her suitor by the secret workings of the philtre, she answered
that she expected more from Frothi's talents in the future than his present
reputation indicated; he came of a famous father and every man's nature
tended to reflect his birth.

O-R Liber quintus. 107. I. 11. Convenis hospitibusque receptuum
loco convicia præbebantur. Tot ludibriorum irritamenta a petulantibus
et lascivis reperta sunt. Adeo sub rege puero temeritas libertate nutrita est.
Nihil enim tantum peccandi licentiam protrahit quantum ultionis pœnæque
dilatio.
PF Book V. 121. Married to Hanunda, Frothi neglects his rule, and
Denmark sinks into chaos:
Guests and strangers were treated to abuse instead of a welcome; so many were
the scornful provocations found among this lewd and impudent crew, for under
a boy-king freedom fostered recklessness. Nothing prolongs open sin
as much as the postponement of due vengeance.

O-R Liber quintus. 112. III. 2. Præcipuus vigor iis
regumque domesticus est lar,/qui proprias numquam deseruere domos./Acceptatur
enim paucis, quod pessimus edit;/invisi raro facta placere solent.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies with
insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for his
own rhetorical weapons. Grep:Those men have special strength, their guardian deity
royal,/who have never strayed away from their own dwellings.31/There
are few people warm to a deed wrought by a rascal,/and the acts of detestable
fellows rarely please. HED 75: 31The attendant or guardian spirit, called hamingja,
which seems to personify a man's luck, could be extended by a king to his followers
in order to bring them protection and good fortune, even though he was not with
them; possibly Grep claims this kind of support from the 'luck' of the king,
which Erik, as a stranger, is denied.

O-R Liber quintus. 112. III. 2. Præcipuus vigor iis
regumque domesticus est lar,/qui proprias numquam deseruere domos./Acceptatur
enim paucis, quod pessimus edit;/invisi raro facta placere solent.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies with
insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for his
own rhetorical weapons. Grep:Those men have special strength, their guardian deity royal,/who have
never strayed away from their own dwellings.31/There are few
people warm to a deed wrought by a rascal,/and the acts of detestable
fellows rarely please. HED 75: 31The attendant or guardian spirit, called hamingja,
which seems to personify a man's luck, could be extended by a king to his followers
in order to bring them protection and good fortune, even though he was not with
them; possibly Grep claims this kind of support from the 'luck' of the king,
which Erik, as a stranger, is denied.

O-R Liber quintus. 112. III. 2. Præcipuus vigor iis
regumque domesticus est lar,/qui proprias numquam deseruere domos./Acceptatur
enim paucis, quod pessimus edit;/invisi raro facta placere solent.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies with
insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for his
own rhetorical weapons. Grep:Those men have special strength, their guardian deity royal,/who have
never strayed away from their own dwellings.31/There are few people
warm to a deed wrought by a rascal,/and the acts of detestable fellows
rarely please. HED 75: 31The attendant or guardian spirit, called hamingja,
which seems to personify a man's luck, could be extended by a king to his followers
in order to bring them protection and good fortune, even though he was not with
them; possibly Grep claims this kind of support from the 'luck' of the king,
which Erik, as a stranger, is denied.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 2. In rebus mens stulta modum
deprendere nescit,/turpis et affectus immoderata sui./Remorum ductus velorum
vincitur usu,/æquora ventus agit, tristior aura solum:/Nam freta remigium
penetrat, mendacia terras;/istas ore premi constat, at illa manu.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot
conduct his affairs with due moderation.32/Sailing tackle
outstrips the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the
earth./Oars cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's
mouths, but hands weigh hard on the other.33 HED
75-6: 32Certain passages in this poem recall
statements in Hávamál on the subject of wisdom and folly,
and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The
foolish man in company will do best to keep silent; no one will know how ignorant
he is unless he talks too much' (27). HED 76:31Kallstenius'
parallels here are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances
can again be seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál
where in verse 53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and
in verse 90 the putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained
colt over ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to
imply that the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an
evil wind of lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars
of rowers, a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared
with sailing, so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land.
He may also be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at
sea. The Icelandic proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur
byr eiga en bráðir handaróður is given by Vigfusson
under and-róði (pulling against wind and current): Those
who wait get a fair wind, those who are hasty pull against wind and tide.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 2. In rebus mens stulta modum
deprendere nescit,/turpis et affectus immoderata sui./Remorum ductus velorum
vincitur usu,/æquora ventus agit, tristior aura solum:/Nam freta remigium
penetrat, mendacia terras;/istas ore premi constat, at illa manu.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.32/Sailing tackle outstrips
the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the
earth./Oars cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's
mouths, but hands weigh hard on the other.33 HED
75-6: 32Certain passages in this poem recall
statements in Hávamál on the subject of wisdom and folly,
and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The
foolish man in company will do best to keep silent; no one will know how ignorant
he is unless he talks too much' (27). HED 76: 33Kallstenius'
parallels here are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances
can again be seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál
where in verse 53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and
in verse 90 the putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained
colt over ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to
imply that the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an
evil wind of lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars
of rowers, a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared
with sailing, so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land.
He may also be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at
sea. The Icelandic proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur
byr eiga en bráðir handaróður is given by Vigfusson
under and-róði (pulling against wind and current): Those
who wait get a fair wind, those who are hasty pull against wind and tide.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 2. In rebus mens stulta modum
deprendere nescit,/turpis et affectus immoderata sui./Remorum ductus velorum
vincitur usu,/æquora ventus agit, tristior aura solum:/Nam freta remigium
penetrat, mendacia terras;/istas ore premi constat, at illa manu.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.32/Sailing tackle outstrips the pull
of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the earth./Oars
cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's mouths, but
hands weigh hard on the other.33 HED 75-6:
32Certain passages in this poem recall statements
in Hávamál on the subject of wisdom and folly, and the
kind of behaviour distinguishing the wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The foolish
man in company will do best to keep silent; no one will know how ignorant he
is unless he talks too much' (27). HED 76: 33Kallstenius'
parallels here are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances
can again be seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál
where in verse 53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and
in verse 90 the putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained
colt over ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to
imply that the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an
evil wind of lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars
of rowers, a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared
with sailing, so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land.
He may also be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at
sea. The Icelandic proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur
byr eiga en bráðir handaróður is given by Vigfusson
under and-róði (pulling against wind and current): Those
who wait get a fair wind, those who are hasty pull against wind and tide.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 2. In rebus mens stulta modum
deprendere nescit,/turpis et affectus immoderata sui./Remorum ductus velorum
vincitur usu,/æquora ventus agit, tristior aura solum:/Nam freta
remigium penetrat, mendacia terras;/istas ore premi constat, at illa
manu.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.32/Sailing tackle outstrips the pull
of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the earth./Oars
cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's mouths,
but hands weigh hard on the other.33 HED
75-6: 32Certain passages in this poem recall
statements in Hávamál on the subject of wisdom and folly,
and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The
foolish man in company will do best to keep silent; no one will know how ignorant
he is unless he talks too much' (27). HED 76:33Kallstenius'
parallels here are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances
can again be seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál
where in verse 53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and
in verse 90 the putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained
colt over ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to
imply that the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an
evil wind of lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars
of rowers, a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared
with sailing, so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land.
He may also be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at
sea. The Icelandic proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur
byr eiga en bráðir handaróður is given by Vigfusson
under and-róði (pulling against wind and current): Those
who wait get a fair wind, those who are hasty pull against wind and tide.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 2. In rebus mens stulta modum
deprendere nescit,/turpis et affectus immoderata sui./Remorum ductus velorum
vincitur usu,/æquora ventus agit, tristior aura solum:/Nam freta remigium
penetrat, mendacia terras;/istas ore premi constat, at illa manu.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.32/Sailing tackle
outstrips the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the
earth./Oars cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed
by men's mouths, but hands weigh hard on the other.33 HED
75-6: 32Certain passages in this poem recall
statements in Hávamál on the subject of wisdom and folly,
and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The
foolish man in company will do best to keep silent; no one will know how ignorant
he is unless he talks too much' (27). HED 76:33Kallstenius'
parallels here are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances
can again be seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál
where in verse 53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and
in verse 90 the putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained
colt over ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to
imply that the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an
evil wind of lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars
of rowers, a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared
with sailing, so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land.
He may also be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at
sea. The Icelandic proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur
byr eiga en bráðir handaróður is given by Vigfusson
under and-róði (pulling against wind and current): Those
who wait get a fair wind, those who are hasty pull against wind and tide.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 3. Ut gallus cæni, sic litis plenus
haberis,/sorde gravis putes nec nisi crimen oles./Adversum
scurram causam producere non est,/qui vacua vocis mobilitate viget.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:You are crammed full of disputes, they say, as
a cock with filth,34/stinking of low breeding and accusations./It
is hard to bring a case against a buffoon, who thrives/on a dance of words without
expressing a meaning. HED 76: 34The
cock is full of filth because he picks up grains from the midden, where he is
said to rule (Book VII, note 84), cf. Kallstenius, p. 31, no. 89.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 3. Ut gallus cæni, sic
litis plenus haberis,/sorde gravis putes nec nisi crimen oles./Adversum
scurram causam producere non est,/qui vacua vocis mobilitate viget.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:You are crammed full of disputes, they say, as a cock with filth,34/stinking
of low breeding and accusations./It is hard to bring a case against
a buffoon, who thrives/on a dance of words without expressing a meaning.
HED 76: 34The cock is full
of filth because he picks up grains from the midden, where he is said to rule
(Book VII, note 84), cf. Kallstenius, p. 31, no. 89.

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 4. Augurium timidi pravique assueta voluntas/numquam
se digno continuere loco./Qui dominum fallit, qui fœdas concipit
artes,/tam sibi quam sociis insidiosus erit./Æde lupum quicumque fovet,
nutrire putatur/prædonem proprio perniciemque lari.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
The predictions of the coward and the hardened cravings of the vicious/were
never contained within their proper bounds./He who cheats his lord
and hatches lewd designs/will be a snare to his comrades and himself./Whoever
nurses a wolf in his home is generally thought/to be fostering a thief, a murderer
of his own household.36 HED 76:36Another
proverb quoted in the Poetic Edda, in Sigurðarkviða
12: Skalat ulf ala ungan lengi (Never foster a wolf cub too long).

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 4. Augurium timidi pravique assueta
voluntas/numquam se digno continuere loco./Qui dominum fallit, qui fœdas
concipit artes,/tam sibi quam sociis insidiosus erit./Æde lupum
quicumque fovet, nutrire putatur/prædonem proprio perniciemque lari.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
The predictions of the coward and the hardened cravings of the vicious/were
never contained within their proper bounds./He who cheats his lord and
hatches lewd designs/will be a snare to his comrades and himself./Whoever
nurses a wolf in his home is generally thought/to be fostering a thief, a murderer
of his own household.36 HED 76:36Another
proverb quoted in the Poetic Edda, in Sigurðarkviða
12: Skalat ulf ala ungan lengi (Never foster a wolf cub too long).

O-R Liber quintus. 113. III. 4. Augurium timidi pravique assueta
voluntas/numquam se digno continuere loco./Qui dominum fallit, qui fœdas
concipit artes,/tam sibi quam sociis insidiosus erit./Æde lupum
quicumque fovet, nutrire putatur/prædonem proprio perniciemque lari.
PF Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
The predictions of the coward and the hardened cravings of the vicious/were
never contained within their proper bounds./He who cheats his lord and hatches
lewd designs/will be a snare to his comrades and himself./Whoever nurses
a wolf in his home is generally thought/to be fostering a thief, a murderer
of his own household.36 HED
76:36Another proverb quoted in the Poetic
Edda, in Sigurðarkviða 12: Skalat ulf ala ungan lengi
(Never foster a wolf cub too long).

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 6. Contra rex docet deliberationem
furori dandam: improvida plerumque nocere consilia, nihil caute simul ac celeriter
geri posse, plurimum præcipites obesse nisus; ad ultimum multitudine paucos
incessere non decere.Ceterum sollertum esse, qui furenti animo
frenos iniciat sævientemque ad tempus impetum interpellet. Taliter rex
præcipitem iuvenis iram consilio cedere coegit.
PF Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be
carried out both quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against
their devisers; lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great
swarm.39 The clever individual was one who could throw a curb on
his rage and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king
forced the young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. HED 77:39There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 6. Contra rex docet deliberationem
furori dandam: improvida plerumque nocere consilia, nihil caute simul ac celeriter
geri posse, plurimum præcipites obesse nisus; ad ultimum multitudine paucos
incessere non decere. Ceterum sollertum esse, qui furenti animo frenos iniciat
sævientemque ad tempus impetum interpellet. Taliter rex præcipitem
iuvenis iram consilio cedere coegit.
PF Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out
both quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against
their devisers; lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great
swarm.39 The clever individual was one who could throw a curb on
his rage and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king
forced the young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. HED 77:39There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 6. Contra rex docet deliberationem
furori dandam: improvida plerumque nocere consilia, nihil caute simul ac celeriter
geri posse, plurimum præcipites obesse nisus; ad ultimum multitudine paucos
incessere non decere.Ceterum sollertum esse, qui furenti animo
frenos iniciat sævientemque ad tempus impetum interpellet. Taliter rex
præcipitem iuvenis iram consilio cedere coegit.
PF Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out both
quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against their
devisers; lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a
great swarm.39 The clever individual was one who could throw a curb
on his rage and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king
forced the young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. HED 77:39There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 6. Contra rex docet deliberationem
furori dandam: improvida plerumque nocere consilia, nihil caute simul ac celeriter
geri posse, plurimum præcipites obesse nisus; ad ultimum multitudine paucos
incessere non decere. Ceterum sollertum esse, qui furenti animo frenos iniciat
sævientemque ad tempus impetum interpellet. Taliter rex præcipitem
iuvenis iram consilio cedere coegit.
PF Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out both
quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against their devisers;
lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great swarm.39
The clever individual was one who could throw a curb on his rage and interrupt
his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king forced the young man to
be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. HED 77:39There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 6. Contra rex docet deliberationem
furori dandam: improvida plerumque nocere consilia, nihil caute simul ac celeriter
geri posse, plurimum præcipites obesse nisus; ad ultimum multitudine paucos
incessere non decere. Ceterum sollertum esse, qui furenti animo frenos iniciat
sævientemque ad tempus impetum interpellet. Taliter rex præcipitem
iuvenis iram consilio cedere coegit.
PF Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out both
quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against their devisers;
lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great swarm.39
The clever individual was one who could throw a curb on his rage
and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king forced the
young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. HED 77:39There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 8. Deinde procedentem paulisper
Ericum subit destinanda regi esse ab advenis dona. Igitur repertum forte glaciale
frustum veste diligenter obvolvens muneris loco regi deferendum curavit. At
ubi ad regiam perventum est, prior introitum petens fratrem pone consequi iubet.
Et iam vernæ regis, ut ludibrio venientem exciperent, lubricam limini
substravere pellem; quam, ingrediente Erico, celeri funis tractu corripientes
lapsum insistenti fecissent, ni Rollerus pone subiens pectore nutabundum exciperet
fratrem. Ericus itaque semifusus nudum habere tergum fraternitatis inopem referebat.
Cumque Gunwara talia regi permittenda negaret, ille stoliditatis legatum damnabat,
apud quem insidiarum cautela non esset. Itaque ludibrii excusationem ludificati
incuriam fecit.
PF Book V. 128. Erik approaches Frothi's court:
After Erik had proceeded a little further, it occurred to him that strangers
ought to offer gifts to the king. Chancing to discover a piece of ice,
he wrapped it carefully in his cloak to preserve and offer it to the ruler as
a present. When he reached the palace, before seeking admittance he asked his
brother to follow close behind him. Now the royal servants, to have some fun
at the expense of their new arrival, had laid down a slippery hide at the threshold;
when Erik entered and stepped on it their quick jerk on the rope would have
overturned him, had not Roller, coming up behind, caught him against his chest
as he reeled.41 Erik, leaning at an angle, remarked that a brotherless
man has a bare back.42 Although Gunvara stated that a king should
not be allowed to play such tricks, Frothi criticised the envoy for his foolishness
in not watching for a trap. He made out that his prank was excusable because
Erik, its butt, had been careless. 41Another
example of skinndráttr (see note 11 above). 42This
is a popular saying quoted more than once in the sagas: Berr er hverr at
baki, nema sér bróður eigi (Bare is the back of the man
without a brother). This is found in Njáls Saga 152 and Grettis
Saga 82. cf. Kallstenius p. 20, no. 17, where he gives a Danish equivalent.

O-R Liber quintus. 114. III. 8. Deinde procedentem paulisper
Ericum subit destinanda regi esse ab advenis dona. Igitur repertum forte glaciale
frustum veste diligenter obvolvens muneris loco regi deferendum curavit. At
ubi ad regiam perventum est, prior introitum petens fratrem pone consequi iubet.
Et iam vernæ regis, ut ludibrio venientem exciperent, lubricam limini
substravere pellem; quam, ingrediente Erico, celeri funis tractu corripientes
lapsum insistenti fecissent, ni Rollerus pone subiens pectore nutabundum exciperet
fratrem. Ericus itaque semifusus nudum habere tergum fraternitatis inopem referebat.
Cumque Gunwara talia regi permittenda negaret, ille stoliditatis legatum damnabat,
apud quem insidiarum cautela non esset. Itaque ludibrii excusationem ludificati
incuriam fecit.
PF Book V. 128. Erik approaches Frothi's court:
After Erik had proceeded a little further, it occurred to him that strangers
ought to offer gifts to the king. Chancing to discover a piece of ice, he wrapped
it carefully in his cloak to preserve and offer it to the ruler as a present.
When he reached the palace, before seeking admittance he asked his brother to
follow close behind him. Now the royal servants, to have some fun at the expense
of their new arrival, had laid down a slippery hide at the threshold; when Erik
entered and stepped on it their quick jerk on the rope would have overturned
him, had not Roller, coming up behind, caught him against his chest as he reeled.41
Erik, leaning at an angle, remarked that a brotherless man has a bare back.42
Although Gunvara stated that a king should not be allowed to play such tricks,
Frothi criticised the envoy for his foolishness in not watching for
a trap. He made out that his prank was excusable because Erik,
its butt, had been careless. HED 77: 41Another
example of skinndráttr (see note 11 above). 42This
is a popular saying quoted more than once in the sagas: Berr er hverr at
baki, nema sér bróður eigi (Bare is the back of the man
without a brother). This is found in Njáls Saga 152 and Grettis
Saga 82. cf. Kallstenius p. 20, no. 17, where he gives a Danish equivalent.[Hávamál advice.]

O-R Liber quintus. 117. III. 12. Rex apparatibus indutias
tribuens Westmari filios secedere iubet, incongruum asserens
etiam male meritum hospitio advenam pelli.
PF Book V. 131. Frothi effects a truce until the time of confrontation
between Erik and the sons of Vestmar:
The king granted a truce for their preparation and bade Vestmar's sons withdraw,
declaring that it was wrong to drive away a stranger, even
an ill-deserving one, without hospitable treatment.

O-R Liber quintus. 117. III. 13. Deinde ad investigandum supplicii
modum, cuius exigendi arbitrium reginæ mandaverat, redit. Quæ cum,
omissa censura, veniam lapsui precaretur, adiecit Ericus, muliebriter
erratis sæpius ignoscendum nec pœnam infligendam esse, nisi
correctio culpam nequivisset avertere.
PF Book V. 131. Erik supports Hanunda's bid for pardon from Frothi for
her unfaithfulness:
Next he returned to find out the queen's decision on her mode of punishment.
She made no mention of her verdict, but begged to be forgiven for the misdemeanour;
Erik commented that it was often right to overlook a woman's errors
and withhold the penalty, if the fault could be removed and there were hope
of improvement.

O-R Liber quintus. 118. III. 15. "Fatuum,"
inquit, "opera prodit. Apud nos intacta virginum libertas
haberi solet."
PF Book V. 132. Frothi when Erik makes a grab for Gunvara, Frothi´s
sister, pretending to think the king has given her to him:
"A simpleton is revealed by his actions. Among us a maiden's
freedom is regarded as inviolable."

O-R Liber quintus. 118. III. 15. "Fatuum," inquit,
"opera prodit. Apud nos intacta virginum libertas haberi solet."
PF Book V. 132. Frothi when Erik makes a grab for Gunvara, Frothi´s
sister, pretending to think the king has given her to him:
"A simpleton is revealed by his actions. Among us a maiden's freedom
is regarded as inviolable."

O-R Liber quintus. 118. III. 15. Rex, promissi errore recognito,
puellam tradidit, nolens incuriæ vitium levitate rescindere, quo gravior
pollicentis videretur auctoritas; quamquam inania pacta revocare maturitati
potius quam inconstantiæ deputetur.
PF Book V. 132. Frothi capitulates, giving his sister to Erik:
The king realised the mistake of his promise and gave him the girl, for he did
not wish to be fickle and repeal what was the fault of his inattentiveness.
The weight of his word must appear strong; yet to go back on
foolish agreements is counted the mark of a mature rather than a shifting judgment.

O-R Liber quintus. 118. III. 15. Rex, promissi errore recognito,
puellam tradidit, nolens incuriæ vitium levitate rescindere, quo gravior
pollicentis videretur auctoritas; quamquam inania pacta revocare maturitati
potius quam inconstantiæ deputetur.
PF Book V. 132. Frothi capitulates, giving his sister to Erik:
The king realised the mistake of his promise and gave him the girl, for he did
not wish to be fickle and repeal what was the fault of his inattentiveness.
The weight of his word must appear strong; yet to go back on foolish
agreements is counted the mark of a mature rather than a shifting judgment.

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Frustra voluntem perire
servastis. Aquis mihi interire negatum est, ferri saltem officio moriar. A nemine
victus tuo primum, Erice, ingenio cessi, hoc infelicior, quod, qui illustribus
viris invictus exstiti, plebeio de me victoriam præbui. Ingens
hoc regii pudoris irritamentum est. Sufficit hæc sola duci ad
moriendum causa, cui nihil gloria magis placere convenit; qua si careat, ceterorum
inopem putes. Nihil enim in rege celebrius fama."
PF Book V. 134. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die:
"In vain you have saved one who wished to perish. As you forbade me to
drown, at least I can stab myself. Hitherto defeated by no one, I yielded first
to your cleverness, Erik, and more miserably because, whereas I had never been
vanquished by famous men, I leta commoner beat me.
That provokes great shame in a monarch. For a leader this is sufficient
reason for dying, since glory is rightly his greatest pleasure; where that has
gone you can be sure everything else has. Nothing about a ruler is talked of
more than his renown."

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Frustra voluntem perire
servastis. Aquis mihi interire negatum est, ferri saltem officio moriar. A nemine
victus tuo primum, Erice, ingenio cessi, hoc infelicior, quod, qui illustribus
viris invictus exstiti, plebeio de me victoriam præbui. Ingens hoc regii
pudoris irritamentum est. Sufficit hæc sola duci ad moriendum causa, cui
nihil gloria magis placere convenit; qua si careat, ceterorum
inopem putes. Nihil enim in rege celebrius fama."
PF Book V. 134. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die:
"In vain you have saved one who wished to perish. As you forbade me to
drown, at least I can stab myself. Hitherto defeated by no one, I yielded first
to your cleverness, Erik, and more miserably because, whereas I had never been
vanquished by famous men, I let a commoner beat me. That provokes great shame
in a monarch. For a leader this is sufficient reason for dying, since glory
is rightly his greatest pleasure; where that has gone you can be sure
everything else has. Nothing about a ruler is talked of more than his renown."TPMA 9. 386. Fylki skal til frægðar hafa

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Frustra voluntem perire
servastis. Aquis mihi interire negatum est, ferri saltem officio moriar. A nemine
victus tuo primum, Erice, ingenio cessi, hoc infelicior, quod, qui illustribus
viris invictus exstiti, plebeio de me victoriam præbui. Ingens hoc regii
pudoris irritamentum est. Sufficit hæc sola duci ad moriendum causa, cui
nihil gloria magis placere convenit; qua si careat, ceterorum inopem putes.
Nihil enim in rege celebrius fama."
PF Book V. 134. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die:
"In vain you have saved one who wished to perish. As you forbade me to
drown, at least I can stab myself. Hitherto defeated by no one, I yielded first
to your cleverness, Erik, and more miserably because, whereas I had never been
vanquished by famous men, I let a commoner beat me. That provokes great shame
in a monarch. For a leader this is sufficient reason for dying, since glory
is rightly his greatest pleasure; where that has gone you can be sure everything
else has. Nothing about a ruler is talked of more than his renown."

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Quid vitæ productio
proderit, solam tristitiæ memoriam relatura? Nihil calamitosis iucundius
morte. Felix est obitus, qui succedit optatus; hic non temporum dulcedinem tollit,
sed rerum fastidium consumit. In prosperis salus, in adversis melius fatum petitur."
PF Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants to die, his speech continued:
"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy memories?
The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's departure is fortunate if
it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness in his existence,
merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for living, in bad situations
we had best seek our end."

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Quid vitæ productio
proderit, solam tristitiæ memoriam relatura? Nihil calamitosis iucundius
morte. Felix est obitus, qui succedit optatus; hic non temporum dulcedinem tollit,
sed rerum fastidium consumit. In prosperis salus, in adversis melius fatum petitur."
PF Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants to die,
his speech continued:"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy
memories? The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's
departure is fortunate if it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness
in his existence, merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for
living, in bad situations we had best seek our end."

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Quid vitæ productio
proderit, solam tristitiæ memoriam relatura? Nihil calamitosis iucundius
morte. Felix est obitus, qui succedit optatus; hic non temporum
dulcedinem tollit, sed rerum fastidium consumit. In prosperis salus, in adversis
melius fatum petitur."
PF Book V. 135.Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die, his speech continued:"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy
memories? The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's departure
is fortunate if it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness
in his existence, merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for
living, in bad situations we had best seek our end."

O-R Liber quintus. 120. III. 21. "Quid vitæ productio
proderit, solam tristitiæ memoriam relatura? Nihil calamitosis iucundius
morte. Felix est obitus, qui succedit optatus; hic non temporum dulcedinem tollit,
sed rerum fastidium consumit. In prosperis salus, in adversis melius
fatum petitur."
PF Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die, his speech continued:"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy
memories? The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's departure is fortunate
if it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness in his existence,
merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for living,
in bad situations we had best seek our end."

O-R Liber quintus. 121. III. 22. "Insipidus est,
qui numquam mæroris poculum degustavit; nemo dura non passus
temperanter facilibus utitur."PF Book V. 136. "A man's palate is limited if
he has never tasted the cup of grief; no one without experience of
hard times can live temperately when things are easy."

O-R Liber quintus. 122. III. 25. Deinde, sumptis secum coniugibus,
navigationem in Norvagiam referunt; neque enim illas a virorum latere aut viæ
longinquitas aut futuri periculi metus divellere poterat, affirmantes, ut plumam
hirto, sic se maritis cohæsuras fore.
PF Book V. 137. Erik and Roller return to Norway with their new wives:Afterwards they sailed back to Norway taking their wives with them;
neither the length of the voyage nor fears of peril could tear them from their
husbands' sides, for each declared she would stick to her partner like
a feather to bristles.65HED 79: 65This
is one of Saxo's idiomatic phrases; it is noted with other examples by Powell
in his preface to Elton's translation (p. lxxxix).

O-R Liber quintus. 122. III. 26. Cuius Ericus intentione comperta
convocatis sociis refert suam necdum cautibus abstitisse fortunam.
Ceterum spectare se fascem labilem esse, qui vinculo non firmetur, perindeque
omne pœnæ pondus repente decidere, quod culpæ catena non fixerit.
PF Book V. 137. Erik discovers Gøtar's plan to
separate him from his wife and marry his sister to him:
When Erik discovered this scheme he called his comrades together and informed
them that his destiny was not yet clear of the reefs. He could
see that a bundle was liable to slip if it were not securely tied,67
and in the same way, if it were not fastened by a chain of guilt, the whole
weight of a punishment could suddenly collapse. HED
79:67Kallstenius (p. 22, no.
26) quotes two Icelandic forms of this saying: Fellst fetillaus byrði
(The unbound bundle falls apart) and Laus er bandlaus baggi (the untied
bag stays loose). The obvious meaning is that a job has to be done properly
and the ends tied up, and may refer in the first place to Erik´s marriage,
which the king is plotting to undo; Saxon seems to extend the meaning by applying
it to the innocent escaping scatheless from threats and perils.

O-R Liber quintus. 122. III. 26. Cuius Ericus intentione comperta
convocatis sociis refert suam necdum cautibus abstitisse fortunam. Ceterum spectare
se fascem labilem esse, qui vinculo non firmetur, perindeque
omne pœnæ pondus repente decidere, quod culpæ catena non fixerit.
PF Book V. 137. Erik discovers Gøtar's plan to
separate him from his wife and marry his sister to him:
When Erik discovered this scheme he called his comrades together and informed
them that his destiny was not yet clear of the reefs. He could see that a
bundle was liable to slip if it were not securely tied,67
and in the same way, if it were not fastened by a chain of guilt, the whole
weight of a punishment could suddenly collapse. HED
79:67Kallstenius (p. 22, no.
26) quotes two Icelandic forms of this saying: Fellst fetillaus byrði
(The unbound bundle falls apart) and Laus er bandlaus baggi (the untied
bag stays loose). The obvious meaning is that a job has to be done properly
and the ends tied up, and may refer in the first place to Erik´s marriage,
which the king is plotting to undo; Saxon seems to extend the meaning by applying
it to the innocent escaping scatheless from threats and perils.

O-R Liber quintus. 122. III. 26. Deinde fugam eos paulisper
fingere oportere, si primum a Gøtaro lacessiti forent, iustiorem belli
titulum habituros. Manum siquidem capitis periculo obici omni iure permissum
esse. Raro autem quemquam commissam cum innoxiis pugnam feliciter exsequi
posse.
PF Book V. 137. Erik plans response to his discovery
of Gøtar's plan to separate him from his wife and marry his sister to
him:Were Gøtar to take the initiative in challenging them, they
should pretend to flee for a short while and would thereby have a sounder pretext
for battling with him. The hand had every right to resist when the head
was endangered.68Anyone who started a broil with blameless
men seldom rejoiced in the consequences. HED 79: 68Kallstenius
(p. 28, no. 68) quotes the Icelandic version: Skylt er hendi af höfði
að bera (the hand is bound to protect the head).

O-R Liber quintus. 122. III. 26. Deinde fugam eos paulisper
fingere oportere, si primum a Gøtaro lacessiti forent, iustiorem belli
titulum habituros. Manum siquidem capitis periculo obici omni iure permissum
esse. Raro autem quemquam commissam cum innoxiis pugnam feliciter exsequi
posse.
PF Book V. 137. Erik plans response to his discovery
of Gøtar's plan to separate him from his wife and marry his sister to
him:Were Gøtar to take the initiative in challenging them, they
should pretend to flee for a short while and would thereby have a sounder pretext
for battling with him. The hand had every right to resist when the head was
endangered.68 Anyone who started a broil with blameless men
seldom rejoiced in the consequences. HED 79: 68Kallstenius
(p. 28, no. 68) quotes the Icelandic version: Skylt er hendi af höfði
að bera (the hand is bound to protect the head).

O-R Liber quintus. 127. IV. 4. Ericus responsi prudentiam
laudat, affirmans ita ludum foris agi oportere, prout domi fuerit inchoatus,
Danos a Sclavis provocatos esse significans.
PF Book V. 142. Erik concurs:Erik praised the wisdom of his reply, stating that he should
play the game abroad as it had begun at home, by which he meant that
the Danes had been provoked by the Slavs.

O-R Liber quintus. 129-30. VII. 3. Cui Ericus: "Numquam
Frotho domi inimicum præstolatur exercitum nec hostem inn ædibus
opperitur. Pernox enim et pervigil esse debet alienum appetens culmen.
Nemo stertendo victoriam cepit, nec luporum quisquam cubando cadaver invenit."
Quem rex exquisitis dictorum sententiis callere cognoscens: "Hic,"
ait, "fortasse Ericus est, a quo filiam meam falsi criminis insimulatam
accepi." Qui continuo prendi iussus, non decere inquit unum a pluribus
abripi.
PF Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful.
Nobody has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a carcase."93
The king recognised his intelligence from these carefully chosen apothegms and
reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who, so I've heard, laid a false charge
against my daughter." He gave orders for him to be pinioned at once, but
Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for one creature to be manhandled by
many.94HED 82:93Similar
proverbial sayings are found in Hávamál 58: 'A man should
get up early if he wants to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug
in his lair never gets a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.'
Kallstenius (p. 30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen
kommer ligghende wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not
likely to get a lamb in his jaws). 94This
appears to be a recognised proverb or maxim (see note 39 above), and this may
be why the king is so impressed by Erik's words. There is a similar reaction
in The Battle of the Goths and Huns, when the command to seize Gizur,
the messenger of Angangyr, is countermanded by King Humli with the words: "We
must not do harm to heralds who travel alone' (28).

O-R Liber quintus. 129-30. VII. 3. Cui Ericus: "Numquam
Frotho domi inimicum præstolatur exercitum nec hostem inn ædibus
opperitur. Pernox enim et pervigil esse debet alienum appetens culmen. Nemo
stertendo victoriam cepit, nec luporum quisquam cubando cadaver invenit."
Quem rex exquisitis dictorum sententiis callere cognoscens: "Hic,"
ait, "fortasse Ericus est, a quo filiam meam falsi criminis insimulatam
accepi." Qui continuo prendi iussus, non decere inquit unum a pluribus
abripi.
PF Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful. Nobody
has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a
carcase."93 The king recognised his intelligence from these
carefully chosen apothegms and reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who,
so I've heard, laid a false charge against my daughter." He gave orders
for him to be pinioned at once, but Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for
one creature to be manhandled by many.94HED
82:93Similar proverbial sayings are found
in Hávamál 58: 'A man should get up early if he wants
to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug in his lair never gets
a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.' Kallstenius (p.
30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen kommer ligghende
wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not likely to get a
lamb in his jaws). 942This appears
to be a recognised proverb or maxim (see note 39 above), and this may be why
the king is so impressed by Erik's words. There is a similar reaction in The
Battle of the Goths and Huns, when the command to seize Gizur, the messenger
of Angangyr, is countermanded by King Humli with the words: "We must not
do harm to heralds who travel alone' (28).TPMA 10. 103.
SCHLAFEN/dormir/to sleep 7. Negative Folgen des (übermässigen) Schlafens
7.1. Schlafen führt zur Sünde Nord. 88 Ofsvefni tæla Lát
þik aldrigi, Kosta vakr at vera; Leti ok lasta Verðr þeim er
lengi sefr Auðit iðuliga Lass dich nie von übermässigen
Schlaf verlocken! Bemühe dich, wach zu sein! Oft befallen Faulheit und
Laster denjenigen, der lange schläft HUGSVINNSMÁL 18, 1.TPMA 10. 105. SCHLAFEN/dormir/to sleep 7. Negative Folgen des
(übermässigen) Schlafens 7.12. Verschiedenes Nord. 116, 117 Fátt
veit sá er sefr Wenig weiss, wer schläft HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA
26 (→ FMS VI, 201). MORKINSKINNA 36, 28 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 461.
jÓNSSON 184) (vgl. WISSEN 11).Ed. note. See Hávamál: 58
Ár scal rísa,/ sá er annars vill/fé eða fiör
hafa;/sialdan liggiandi úlfr/lær um getr,/né sofandi maðr
sigr. 59 Ár scal rísa,/ sá er á yrkendr fá,/oc
ganga síns verca á vit;/ mart um dvelr,/ þann er um morgin
sefr,/ hálfr er auðr und hvötum. Larrington: He
should get up early, the man who means to take/ another´s life or property;/the
slumbering wolf does not get the ham,/nor a sleeping man victory. 59.
He should get up early, the man who has few workers,/and go about his work with
thought;/ much he neglects, the man who sleeps in in the mornings,/ wealth is
half-won by the vigorous.

O-R Liber quintus. 129-30. VII. 3. Cui Ericus: "Numquam
Frotho domi inimicum præstolatur exercitum nec hostem inn ædibus
opperitur. Pernox enim et pervigil esse debet alienum appetens culmen. Nemo
stertendo victoriam cepit, nec luporum quisquam cubando cadaver invenit."
Quem rex exquisitis dictorum sententiis callere cognoscens: "Hic,"
ait, "fortasse Ericus est, a quo filiam meam falsi criminis insimulatam
accepi." Qui continuo prendi iussus, non decere inquit unum a pluribus
abripi.
PF Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful. Nobody
has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a carcase."93
The king recognised his intelligence from these carefully chosen apothegms and
reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who, so I've heard, laid a false charge
against my daughter." He gave orders for him to be pinioned at once, but
Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for one creature to be manhandled by
many.94HED 82:93Similar
proverbial sayings are found in Hávamál 58: 'A man should
get up early if he wants to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug
in his lair never gets a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.'
Kallstenius (p. 30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen
kommer ligghende wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not
likely to get a lamb in his jaws). 94This
appears to be a recognised proverb or maxim (see note 39 above), and this may
be why the king is so impressed by Erik's words. There is a similar reaction
in The Battle of the Goths and Huns, when the command to seize Gizur,
the messenger of Angangyr, is countermanded by King Humli with the words: "We
must not do harm to heralds who travel alone' (28).

O-R Liber quintus. 129-30. VII. 3. Cui Ericus: "Numquam
Frotho domi inimicum præstolatur exercitum nec hostem inn ædibus
opperitur. Pernox enim et pervigil esse debet alienum appetens culmen. Nemo
stertendo victoriam cepit, nec luporum quisquam cubando cadaver invenit."
Quem rex exquisitis dictorum sententiis callere cognoscens: "Hic,"
ait, "fortasse Ericus est, a quo filiam meam falsi criminis insimulatam
accepi." Qui continuo prendi iussus, non decere inquit
unum a pluribus abripi.
PF Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful. Nobody
has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a carcase." 93
The king recognised his intelligence from these carefully chosen apothegms and
reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who, so I've heard, laid a false charge
against my daughter." He gave orders for him to be pinioned at once, but
Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for one creature to be manhandled
by many.94HED 82:93Similar
proverbial sayings are found in Hávamál 58: 'A man should
get up early if he wants to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug
in his lair never gets a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.'
Kallstenius (p. 30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen
kommer ligghende wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not
likely to get a lamb in his jaws). 94This
appears to be a recognised proverb or maxim (see note 39 above), and this may
be why the king is so impressed by Erik's words. There is a similar reaction
in The Battle of the Goths and Huns, when the command to seize Gizur,
the messenger of Angangyr, is countermanded by King Humli with the words: "We
must not do harm to heralds who travel alone' (28).

O-R Liber quintus. 130. VII. 4. Cunctante vero Frothone, quid
contra tot acturus esset, attentiusque subsidia circumspiciente: "Probum,"
inquit Ericus, "audacia iuvat; acri cane occupandus est
ursus; molossis quippe, non imbellibus caniculis opus est."
PF Book V. 145. Erik, returned to Frothi, advises him to proceed against
the Hunnish hordes:
But while Frothi was hesitating over how he should combat these immense levies
and was looking about purposefully for reinforcements, Erik said: "Boldness
helps the virtuous; it takes a fierce hound to set upon a bear; we
need mastiffs, not lap-dogs."

O-R Liber quintus. 130. VII. 4. Cunctante vero Frothone, quid
contra tot acturus esset, attentiusque subsidia circumspiciente: "Probum,"
inquit Ericus, "audacia iuvat; acri cane occupandus est ursus;
molossis quippe, non imbellibus caniculis opus est."
PF Book V. 145. Erik, returned to Frothi, advises him to proceed against
the Hunnish hordes:
But while Frothi was hesitating over how he should combat these immense levies
and was looking about purposefully for reinforcements, Erik said: "Boldness
helps the virtuous; it takes a fierce hound to set upon a bear;
we need mastiffs, not lap-dogs."

O-R Liber quintus. 130. VII. 4. Cunctante vero Frothone, quid
contra tot acturus esset, attentiusque subsidia circumspiciente: "Probum,"
inquit Ericus, "audacia iuvat; acri cane occupandus est ursus; molossis
quippe, non imbellibus caniculis opus est."
PF Book V. 145. Erik, returned to Frothi, advises him to proceed against
the Hunnish hordes:
But while Frothi was hesitating over how he should combat these immense levies
and was looking about purposefully for reinforcements, Erik said: "Boldness
helps the virtuous; it takes a fierce hound to set upon a bear; we need
mastiffs, not lap-dogs."

O-R Liber quintus. 130. VII. 4. Quarum cum Frotho paucitatem
incessere deforme duxisset: "A macro," inquit Ericus,
"et tenui petendus est cibus. Raro pinguescet qui cadit;
neque enim mordendi potens est, quem vastus occupaverit follis." Quo documento
regi irruptionis edendæ ruborem excussit eumque mox ad paucitatem multitudine
lacessendam perduxit, utilitatem pudori præferendam significans.
PF Book V. 145. When Frothi hesitates to attack the Rutenians, who have
such a small fleet, Eric advises:"We must seek our food among the lean and slender;
one who falls will rarely grow fat; if he has a great sack thrown over his head,
he won't be able to bite."96 This argument shook the king
out of his shame, and he was led to assault the few vessels with his own multitude,
showing he must set profitability higher than propriety. HED
83:96Kallstenius (p. 21, no. 20) gives
an Icelandic equivalent for the first saying: Af mögru skal mat hafa
(food shall be had from the lean); and again for the second (p. 25, no. 47):
Sjaldan fitnar hinn fallni (The fallen seldom grows fat); and the third
(p. 28, no. 69): Ekki bítur sá í belg liggur (What's
in the bag can't bite).

O-R Liber quintus. 130. VII. 4. Quarum cum Frotho paucitatem
incessere deforme duxisset: "A macro," inquit Ericus, "et tenui
petendus est cibus. Raro pinguescet qui cadit; neque enim mordendi potens est,
quem vastus occupaverit follis." Quo documento regi irruptionis edendæ
ruborem excussit eumque mox ad paucitatem multitudine lacessendam perduxit,
utilitatem pudori præferendam significans.
PF Book V. 145. When Frothi hesitates to attack the Rutenians, who have
such a small fleet, Eric advises:"We must seek our food among the lean and slender; one who falls
will rarely grow fat; if he has a great sack thrown over his head, he won't
be able to bite."96 This argument shook the king out of his
shame, and he was led to assault the few vessels with his own multitude, showing
he must set profitability higher than propriety. HED
83:96Kallstenius (p. 21, no. 20) gives
an Icelandic equivalent for the first saying: Af mögru skal mat hafa
(food shall be had from the lean); and again for the second (p. 25, no. 47):
Sjaldan fitnar hinn fallni (The fallen seldom grows fat); and the third
(p. 28, no. 69): Ekki bítur sá í belg liggur (What's
in the bag can't bite).

O-R Liber quintus. 131. VII. 7. . . . nefas omne
morientibus licitum fuit. Nihil enim tam difficile, quod necessitas
suprema non imperet. Ad ultimam fame exhaustis publica claders incessit:
efferebantur absque cessatione corpora, cunctisque exitium formidantibus, nulli
miseratio pereuntium fuit; humanitatem quippe metus excluserat.
PF Book V. 146. The Huns are defeated by the size of their army, unable
to feed itself: The dying men condoned every monstrosity, for nothing is so
unthinkable that it cannot be enforced by dire need. In the end wholesale
disaster assailed them, spent as they were with hunger; corpses were carried
to burial ceaselessly, and though everyone dreaded death no pity was felt for
those who were expiring. Fear had shut out all humanity.

O-R Liber quintus. 131. VII. 7. . . . nefas omne
morientibus licitum fuit. Nihil enim tam difficile, quod necessitas suprema
non imperet. Ad ultimam fame exhaustis publica claders incessit: efferebantur
absque cessatione corpora, cunctisque exitium formidantibus,
nulli miseratio pereuntium fuit; humanitatem quippe metus excluserat.
PF Book V. 146. The Huns are defeated by the size of their army, unable
to feed itself: The dying men condoned every monstrosity, for nothing is so unthinkable
that it cannot be enforced by dire need. In the end wholesale disaster assailed
them, spent as they were with hunger; corpses were carried to burial ceaselessly,
and though everyone dreaded death no pity was felt for those
who were expiring. Fear had shut out all humanity.

O-R Liber quintus. 131. VII. 7. . . . nefas omne
morientibus licitum fuit. Nihil enim tam difficile, quod necessitas suprema
non imperet. Ad ultimam fame exhaustis publica claders incessit: efferebantur
absque cessatione corpora, cunctisque exitium formidantibus, nulli miseratio
pereuntium fuit; humanitatem quippe metus excluserat.
PF Book V. 146. The Huns are defeated by the size of their army, unable
to feed itself: The dying men condoned every monstrosity, for nothing is so unthinkable
that it cannot be enforced by dire need. In the end wholesale disaster assailed
them, spent as they were with hunger; corpses were carried to burial ceaselessly,
and though everyone dreaded death no pity was felt for those who were expiring.
Fear had shut out all humanity.

O-R Liber quintus. 134. X. 1. Cumque militiæ procursum
in Alricum effundere statuisset, Ericus prius filium eius Gunthiovum, Wermis
ac Soloringis prælatum, censuit impetendum, oportere
asserens fessum tempestate nautam proximum captare litus. Præterea
radicum inopem raro virere truncum.
PF Book V. 149. Gestiblind, King of Götaland, wants to attack Alrik,
King of Sweden, but Erik persuades him to attack Alrik's son, Gunthiof, first:
Though Gestiblind had determined to launch an invasion on Alrik, Erik proposed
that he first attack the son, Gunthiof, leader of the men of Värmland and
Solör, declaring that the sailor wearied by the storm should make
for the nearest shore; besides, a tree without roots rarely grew verdant.

O-R Liber quintus. 134. X. 1. Cumque militiæ procursum
in Alricum effundere statuisset, Ericus prius filium eius Gunthiovum, Wermis
ac Soloringis prælatum, censuit impetendum, oportere asserens fessum tempestate
nautam proximum captare litus. Præterea radicum inopem raro virere
truncum.
PF Book V. 149. Gestiblind, King of Götaland, wants to attack Alrik,
King of Sweden, but Erik persuades him to attack Alrik's son, Gunthiof, first:
Though Gestiblind had determined to launch an invasion on Alrik, Erik proposed
that he first attack the son, Gunthiof, leader of the men of Värmland and
Solör, declaring that the sailor wearied by the storm should make for the
nearest shore; besides, a tree without roots rarely grew verdant.

O-R Liber quintus. 135. XI. 2. Humanæ siquidem cupiditatis
more, quo plura possederat, plus affectans, etiam vastissimam
atque horridissimam orbis terrarum partem ab hoc iniuriæ genere intentatam
exsistere passus non est. Adeo opum accessio aviditati incrementum afferre consuevit.
PF Book V. 150. Frothi sails to Norway, and Erik leads a detachment overland:
It was the usual tale of human avarice, the more he possessed, the more
he wanted;129 he would not leave even this bleak and forbidding
quarter of the world unmolested. The acquisition of wealth has never failed
to increase men's greed. HED 88:129Kallstenius
(p. 21, no. 22) quotes the Danish form of this proverb: Meer vil meer,
equivalent to the English 'Much will have more'.

O-R Liber quintus. 135. XI. 2. Humanæ siquidem cupiditatis
more, quo plura possederat, plus affectans, etiam vastissimam atque horridissimam
orbis terrarum partem ab hoc iniuriæ genere intentatam exsistere passus
non est. Adeo opum accessio aviditati incrementum afferre consuevit.
PF Book V. 150. Frothi sails to Norway, and Erik leads a detachment overland:
It was the usual tale of human avarice, the more he possessed, the more he wanted;129
he would not leave even this bleak and forbidding quarter of the world unmolested.
The acquisition of wealth has never failed to increase men's greed.
HED 88:129Kallstenius
(p. 21, no. 22) quotes the Danish form of this proverb: Meer vil meer,
equivalent to the English 'Much will have more'.

O-R Liber quintus. 136. XI. 4. Mala soli, gravis uni manet omnis domus
orbis;/miseri quos hominum subsidiis destituit fors.
PF Book V. 151. When Asmund is lifted from the tomb he responds when bystanders
ask him how he was wounded:Every dwelling in the world is wretched for one in loneliness;/unhappy
are they whom Fate has robbed of the help of men.

O-R Liber quintus. 136. XI. 4. Mala soli, gravis uni manet
omnis domus orbis;/miseri quos hominum subsidiis destituit fors.
PF Book V. 151. When Asmund is lifted from the tomb he responds when bystanders
ask him how he was wounded:
Every dwelling in the world is wretched for one in loneliness;/unhappy
are they whom Fate has robbed of the help of men.